Breckland

Breckland's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in work life, housing tenure and health.

The population passed 130,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Breckland increased by 7.5%, from about 121,000 to 130,000.

The addition of just under 9,100 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Breckland was home to, on average, 0.71 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it Eastof England's least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Breckland

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Breckland increased by three years, from 41 to 44 years.

This remote area had a higher average age than Eastof England and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 4,500 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 3,000.

About 14% of people in Breckland are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Breckland by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Breckland working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 18% to 13% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.6% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across Eastof England. As a result, Breckland became more healthy than the regional average 11% in Eastof England described their health as good in 2011).

Long hour working in Breckland decreased by 5.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Breckland, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Breckland residents that were self-employed increased from 9.6% to 10% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 53%, while the percentage of Breckland residents that were unemployed increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 9.3% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in considerably limiting disability

The percentage of Breckland residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.1% to 4.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.6%, while the percentage of Breckland residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability in Breckland increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Breckland, Eastof England and England that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Breckland that rented privately increased from 9.3% to 15% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 14%, while the percentage of Breckland households that owned their home decreased from 73% to 69%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Breckland increased by 5.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Breckland, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

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